Dominik Piła took part in a press briefing ahead of Saturday’s match against GKS Katowice.
On the coach change:
– It’s never pleasant when dismissals happen, and it wasn’t pleasant for us. The responsibility for the results also rested on us. We have two important matches ahead of us, and I’m trying to put the game against Pogoń behind me, as dwelling on it won’t help us win the upcoming matches. As a team, we’re trying to move on and focus on these last two games, so we can earn some points and head home in slightly better spirits.
About the last match against GKS Katowice:
– Unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure of playing in that match because I was suspended due to yellow cards, but I watched the game on TV. It was truly a match between two evenly matched teams, where the goal at the end made the difference. GKS is a very calculated team with an experienced coach who has been working there for a long time. They are definitely a cohesive, strong team that is performing well in the Ekstraklasa after their promotion. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they are a newly promoted team, just like us, so we can definitely aim for points there.
About the division of work between Kevin Blackwell and Radosław Bella:
– I can say that from training, it seems that Kevin is the main one in charge, but the tasks are divided between them. Everyone in the staff knows what they need to do and what is expected of them. There haven’t been many changes in terms of personnel because Kevin has been with us almost the entire time and knows what he can expect from us, and we know what to expect from him. So, there haven’t been any radical changes, just a bit of a fresh breeze.
About the reasons for the coach’s dismissal:
– As I said earlier, it’s not a pleasant situation when the coach leaves. Especially a coach with whom we were all connected and had good relationships. The responsibility falls not only on the coach but also on us. Because it was us running on the pitch, and we were also responsible for the results on the field. We’re trying to move on from that, because it’s already in the past and we can’t change it. We only have an impact on the future, and in the future, there are two matches in which we need to earn points. Keeping Lechia in the Ekstraklasa is our main goal.
About the atmosphere at training:
– There is a breath of fresh air. I see a lot of desire among the players to prove themselves. The atmosphere is positive, just like before. I don’t see anyone hanging their head in doubt. I look forward with optimism.
On Lechia’s goals:
– There was a statement from the authorities that, just like last season our goal was promotion to the Ekstraklasa, this season the goal is to keep Lechia in the Ekstraklasa. I think we won’t be looking at the table, because just like last season at this stage we were several points behind the top two spots, now we are trailing the safe positions by about the same or a similar number of points. We are only focused on ensuring that Lechia stays in the Ekstraklasa.
About the change of goals for the team:
– The current situation brings us to this point. It’s not said that our team isn’t capable of fighting for higher positions. The situation is what it is, and at this moment, I think everyone at the club, both the players and the staff, is focused on ensuring we stay in the league. This is very important for Gdańsk, for you, for the fans, and for us as well, so we will do everything we can to keep Gdańsk and Lechia in the Ekstraklasa.
About the changes necessary at Lechia:
– I think we should be even more responsible and smarter on the field. We can’t enter matches and immediately lose points or concede goals, especially away games. The first thing that comes to my mind is a better start to the match and staying in the game for as long as possible, so that, like in the case of Korona Kielce, something can happen at any moment, allowing us to score the winning goal and take the points.
On GKS Katowice:
– The biggest strength of GKS Katowice is their unity and the team. The team has been built over a long period with the same coach, and they have developed strong automatisms. Everyone can see that, and it’s definitely their strong point. They are a tall team, so set pieces are also dangerous for them, and they score goals from them, which we need to be prepared for. Throw-ins and corners – they are dangerous in these situations and feel strong in them, so we need to eliminate that threat and be ready for it.
